Systems, compositions, and methods for curing leakages in pipes

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides leakage plugging devices and methods for sealing a leakage at a remote site in a pipe, the device including a porous carrier plug of a deformable material including pores and at least one sealant composition disposed in the pores, wherein the porous carrier plug is adapted to transport the at least one sealant composition from a first site to a remote site and to plug the leakage at the remote site.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to pipeline leakages, and morespecifically to methods and apparatus for curing pipeline leakages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many liquids are transported via subterranean/underwater pipelines. Whena leakage crack or hole forms is the pipeline, the liquid leakstherefrom. Often, it takes a long time to detect a leakage and yetlonger to locate the leakage site. Oil, gas and water transportation arethus subject to tremendous losses due to pipeline leakage.

There is thus a need to maintain and seal subterranean/underwaterpipelines quickly in situ.

Several patent publications in the field include U.S. Pat. No.3,523,826A, which relates to a process for cleaning a piping systemwhich is characterized by circulating in, and through said system athixotropic emulsion having a hi.-h volume ratio of internal phase toexternal phase, the emulsion having an emulsifying agent, anemulsifiable oil and a non-oil, the emulsion being an oil-in-non-oil ora non-oil-in-oil emulsion, the internal phase of said emulsion beingpresent in said emulsion in an amount of at least 80% by volume of theemulsion, said emulsion having the characteristics of a solid when atrest and the characteristics of a liquid when a force is exerted on it,said emulsion tending to be non-adhesive, said emulsion having acritical shear point sufficient to permit pumping at high rates, andsaid emulsion having an apparent rest viscosity greater than about 1000cps.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,216,026 describes a method for removing fluid and/orparticulate debris from a pipeline, a Bingham plastic fluid plug ispassed through a pipeline and the fluid and/or debris are collected bythe plug. The plug is pushed through the pipeline with a scraper whichin turn may be pushed by liquid or gas pressure. Where the fluid to beremoved is water, the Bingham plastic fluid plug employed preferably isa composition of water and a xanthan gum, and the gum may becross-linked with a multivalent metal. Where the fluid to be removed isa hydrocarbon, the Bingham plastic fluid plug employed preferably is acomposition of a mineral oil and an organo-modified smectite, and mayalso include a particulate filler such as powdered coal.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,252,465A describes a gel plug, which is employed duringconstruction of an offshore pipeline to separate a gas-filled portion ofthe pipeline from a water-flooded portion, and to facilitate control andmovement of the gas/gel plug/water interface as desired to assist inconstruction operations.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,559A relates to an interior surface of a pipelinebeing dried by sequentially passing through the pipeline (a) an aqueouscross-linked gelled pig, (b) a fluid mobility buffer comprising anon-crosslinked gelled ankanol of from one to three carbon atoms, (c) adessicating amount of a liquid alkanol from one to three carbon atoms.For example, a pipeline was dried by sequentially passing through it (a)a borate cross-linked hydroxypropyl guar gum pig, (b) a fluid mobilitybuffer comprising methanol thickened with hydroxypropyl cellulose, and(c) methanol.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,379,722 discloses a gel plug of mineral oil,organo-modified smectite, and a particulate filler such as powderedcoal, or a gel plug of mineral oil and organo-modified smectite isemployed during construction of an off-shore pipeline to separate agas-filled portion of the pipeline from a water-flooded portion, and tofacilitate control and movement of a gas/gel plug/water interface asdesired to assist in construction operations.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,703 describes a method to remove particulate debrisfrom a pipeline, a plug train including at least one gel plug havingdebris entraining characteristics and at least one pseudoplastic plug ispassed through a pipeline and the debris is collected by the gel plug.The gel plug is pushed through the pipeline with a scraper which in turnmay be pushed by liquid or gas pressure.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,968A discloses gelled compositions comprisingcarboxymethylhydroxyethyl cellulose in aqueous brine solutions, whichare gelled by the addition of an alkaline earth metal hydroxide such ascalcium hydroxide. The gelled compositions have utility as waterdiversion agents, pusher fluids, fracturing fluids, drilling muds,work-over fluids, and completion fluids.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,339A provides a method of cleaning a pipeline usinga gel pig of a graft copolymer of a hydroxyalkyl cellulose prepared by aredox reaction with vinyl phosphonic acid. The gel pig is formed byhydrating the graft copolymer in an aqueous liquid. The gel pig iscrosslinked by the addition of a Lewis base or Bronsted-Lowry base, tothe gel in an amount sufficient to initiate crosslinking of the graftcopolymer. Contaminants entrained in the crosslinked gel pig during thecleaning process may be separated by the addition of a pH reducing agentto the pig whereby the viscosity of the gel is caused to decrease. Thegel may be used for further cleaning after contaminant separation byaddition of an additional quantity of the Lewis base or Bronsted-Lowrybase.

WO2008081441 describes a method of repairing leakage in pipelinescomprising the steps of forming a first and second openings in thepipeline upstream and downstream, respectively, of the leakage location,inserting through the first opening a first body, filling the spacearrear of the first body (C1) with a first viscous sealing material(M1), inserting through the first opening a second body (C2) arrear ofthe first viscous sealing material (M1) compressing the first sealingmaterial by applying a pressure against the first and the second bodies(C1, C2) in opposite directions, causing the first and second bodies(C1, C2) and the compressed first sealing material (M1) to move inunison in the direction of the second opening, and retrieving the firstand second bodies (C1, C2). Preferably, the method is performed usingthree bodies (C1, C2, C3) and two sealing materials (M1, M2).

Prior art systems often have the following drawback, namely thathardening material which is not in the optimal ratio is fed into thepipeline. Additionally, after exposure of the material in the hole inthe pipe, it can remain and may also exit pressure pipe. There are thusstill many types of pipeline leakages, which cannot be cured using theaforementioned prior art materials and methods. There thus remains anurgent need to develop systems and methods for curing pipeline leakages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of some aspects of the present invention to providemethods of forming plugging devices for use in systems and methods forsealing pipeline leakages.

The present invention provides leakage plugging devices and methods forsealing a leakage at a remote site in a pipe, the device including apolymeric carrier plug of a deformable material including pores and atleast one sealant composition disposed in the pores, wherein thepolymeric carrier plug is adapted to transport the at least one sealantcomposition from a first site to a remote site and to plug the leakageat the remote site.

In other embodiments of the present invention, a method and system areprovided for sealing water transport pipelines.

There is thus provided according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, a leakage plugging device for sealing a leakage at a remotesite in a pipe, the device including;

-   -   a. a polymeric carrier plug of a deformable material including        pores; and    -   b. at least one sealant composition disposed in the pores,        wherein the polymeric carrier plug is adapted to transport the        at least one sealant composition from a first site to a remote        site and to plug the leakage at the remote site.

Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, thedevice is of a first dimension and the leakage is of a second dimension.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, thefirst dimension is in a range of 0.1 mm to 100 mm.

Moreover, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the firstdimension is in a range of 1 mm to 50 mm.

Further, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the firstdimension is in a range of 2 mm to 15 mm.

Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, thepolymeric carrier plug is adapted to penetrate the remote site.

Preferably, according to an embodiment of the present invention, thepolymeric carrier plug or a multiplicity of polymeric carrier plugs areadapted to fill at least one of a hole, a crack and breakage causing theleakage at the remote site.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, thepolymeric carrier plug or a multiplicity of polymeric carrier plugs areadapted to be condensed at the remote site.

Yet further, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the atleast one sealant composition resides within the condensed carrier plugor a multiplicity of polymeric carrier plugs to fill the leakage at theremote site.

Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, thepolymeric carrier plug is of a shape selected from the group consistingof wedge-shaped, rhomboid, cubic, polygon, spherical, ovular,egg-shaped, diamond-shaped and pyramid-shaped.

Moreover, according to an embodiment of the present invention, thepolymeric carrier plug includes a polymer selected from the groupconsisting of a foamed material, a polyurethane material, an expandedmaterial, a natural material and a biodegradable polymeric material.

Further, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the atleast one sealant composition includes;

-   -   a. an adhesive;    -   b. a hardener; and    -   c. at least one filler.

Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, thedeformable material includes polyurethane and the at least one sealantcomposition further includes a fatty acid liquid composition.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, thefatty acid liquid composition includes a vegetable oil.

Moreover, according to an embodiment of the present invention, thevegetable oil is selected from the group consisting of sunflower oil,safflower oil, corn oil, soybean oil, canola oil, olive oil and rapeseedoil.

Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, thepolymeric carrier plug is adapted to form a narrow head part and widertail part, wherein the head part is lodged within a hole, a crack andbreakage causing the leakage at the remote site.

Further, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a densityof the device is increased at least threefold after plugging the site.

There is thus provided according to another embodiment of the presentinvention, a method for sealing a leakage at a remote site in a pipe,the method including;

-   -   a. introducing a fluid carrier including a plurality of leakage        plugging devices according to claim 1, into the pipe at the        first site under pressure;    -   b. allowing the fluid carrier to transport the devices to the        remote site, wherein at least one the devices penetrates the        leakage thereby sealing the leakage.

Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, themethod further includes;

-   -   c. curing the at least one sealant composition within the        devices at the remote site, thereby forming at least one        hardened increased-density device.

Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, themethod further includes;

-   -   d. removing excess plugging devices and sealant compositions        from the pipe after the allowing step.

Moreover, according to an embodiment of the present invention, thesealing includes a hardening step followed by a curing step.

Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, thehardening step occurs within twenty minutes and the curing step occurswithin eight to twenty hours.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, thehardening step occurs within ten minutes and the curing step occurswithin two hours.

In some cases, the hardening step occurs within five minutes and thecuring step occurs within one hour. The present invention will be morefully understood from the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiments thereof, taken together with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in connection with certain preferredembodiments with reference to the following illustrative figures so thatit may be more fully understood.

With specific reference now to the figures in detail, it is stressedthat the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes ofillustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention only and are presented in the cause of providing what isbelieved to be the most useful and readily understood description of theprinciples and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, noattempt is made to show structural details of the invention in moredetail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of theinvention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent tothose skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may beembodied in practice.

In the drawings:

FIGS. 1A-1C show simplified images of a leakage plugging device for insitu repair of a pipe, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 shows a simplified image of a leakage plugging device for in siturepair of a pipe, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 shows a simplified schematic diagram of the end product ofrepair—the pipe from the outside after repair with a sealant plug, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a simplified schematic diagram of the end product ofrepair—the pipe from the inside after repair with a sealant plug, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 shows a simplified flowchart of a method for the preparation of asealant plug in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

In all the figures similar reference numerals identify similar parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, itwill be understood by those skilled in the art that these are specificembodiments and that the present invention may be practiced also indifferent ways that embody the characterizing features of the inventionas described and claimed herein.

The present invention provides systems and methods for repairing leakingpipes in situ, apparatus and systems for method implementation,materials and sealant compositions.

The present invention provides leakage plugging devices and methods forsealing a leakage at a remote site in a pipe, the device including apolymeric carrier plug of a deformable material including pores and atleast one sealant composition disposed in the pores, wherein thepolymeric carrier plug is adapted to transport the at least one sealantcomposition from a first site to a remote site and to plug the leakageat the remote site.

Prior art systems often have the following drawback, namely thathardening material which is not in the optimal ratio is fed into thepipeline. Additionally, after exposure of the material in the hole inthe pipe, it can remain and may also exit pressure pipe.

One of the aims of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacksof the prior art, that is, the development of a reliable pipe repairprocess from the inside, as well as development of basic devices,materials and other items needed for reliable pipe repair in realconditions.

When the carrier plugs that are suspended in a composite sealantcomposition approach the holes in the pipe, they go into the holes andplug them. The remaining plugs and composition are ejected from the pipeand disposed of. Carrier plugs, which have come through the holes in thepipe after the specified time harden and form strong plug, termed hereinleakage plugging devices. The pipe is cleaned from residues of theadditional material/sealant compositions and plugs. This leaves thefinal pipeline repaired with in situ leakage plugging device(s) andno/negligible leakage.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1A-1C, which show simplified images of aleakage plugging device 100, 110, 120, for in situ repair of a pipe, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Device 100 is comprises a polymer carrier plug 102 of generalthree-dimensional shape before use and at least one sealant compositioncarried therein (not seen). The carrier plug has a height h₁, width, l₁and thickness w, before use. After use its shape is changed 110 andforms a head section 112 and tail section 114. The head section is of alength h₂ and diameter d. The head section is often of a cylindricalshape if it stoppers a circular hole or often termed pinhole. The tailsection may be of a regular or irregular shape of height h₃ and widthl₂. The dimensions after curing (use) depend on the degree ofcompacting/increasing density thereof. The density may typicallyincrease 1-10 fold and dimensions decrease respectively. The density istypically non-uniform, being greater in the head section and lower inthe tail section.

FIG. 2 shows further simplified images of a leakage plugging device forin situ repair of a pipe before use 210, during the curing process 210and after the curing process 220.

FIG. 3 shows a simplified schematic diagram of the end product ofrepair—a pipe from the outside after repair 302 with a sealant plug 300showing part of head section 112.

FIG. 4 shows a simplified schematic diagram 400 of the end product ofrepair—the pipe from the inside after repair 402 with a sealant plugtail (partial view) 114, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

Sealant compositions are introduced into carrier plugs. The unloadedcarrier plugs are constructed and configured to:

-   -   a. receive at least one sealant composition thereby forming a        loaded carrier plug;    -   b. transport the at least one sealant composition along the        pipe;    -   c. enable the at least one sealant composition to harden and/or        expand/and or polymerize and/or be retained in situ at the        leakage site (hole/crack/other) thereby forming a leakage        plugging device.

The carrier plugs thus form a novel system for plugging/sealing leakagesites in pipes.

The sealant compositions of the present invention may further compriseother particles/solids which remain in the leakage site outside thecarrier plugs.

A composite sealant composition may comprise:

-   -   a. one or more sealant compositions;    -   b. one or more type of loaded or unloaded carrier plugs;    -   c. optionally, at least one filler or particulate; and    -   d. other optional additives.

The composite sealant composition comprising some or all of the above,are adapted to be introduced into a pipeline by the help of specialdevices.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5, which shows a simplified flowchart 500of a method for the preparation of a sealant plug in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

In a first mixing step 502, a polymeric condensable material 501 isintroduced into a first solution or suspension 503. The polymericcondensable material, may be, for example, polyurethane of a density of15-30 kg/m³. According to some embodiments, the density is 15-18 kg/m³.

According to some embodiments, the first solution (solution 1, FIG. 5)is in accordance with that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,378 (FIG. 3and example 1), incorporated herein by reference.

According to some other embodiments, solution 503 comprises:

-   -   a) At least one polymer, selected from polyurethane,        polyacrylate, rubber, plastic, cellulose and combinations        thereof in a weight ratio of 5-20% wt/wt.    -   b) At least one organic or inorganic filler selected from carbon        ash, aluminum hydroxide, calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide,        magnesium hydroxide, magnesium carbonate, titanium hydroxide,        silica, similar fillers and combinations thereof in a weight        ratio of 40-90% wt/wt.    -   c) At least one surfactant selected from an ionic surfactant, an        anionic surfactant, a detergent, an edible oil, an inedible oil        and combinations thereof in a weight ratio of 0.01 to 4% wt/wt.    -   d) At least one gelling agent selected from carrageenan, agar        agar, hydroxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose,        hydroxypropyl cellulose and combinations thereof in a weight        ratio of 0.01 to 4% wt/wt.    -   e) An antifoam in a weight ratio of 0.01 to 4% wt/wt.    -   f) A coloring agent selected from a water soluble dye, a water        insoluble dye, a paint, an oxide, a metal oxide and combinations        thereof in a weight ratio of 0.01 to 1% wt/wt.

The resultant wet impregnated material 507 is typically of a density of30-150 kg/m³.

The wet impregnated material 507 is then dried in a drying step 504. Thedrying step may be conducted in a belt dryer, tray drier, oven or anyother commercially available drying method, known in the art. Theresultant product is a dried impregnated material 509.

In parallel, a second solution or suspension 515 is prepared from afirst composition 511 and a second composition 513 in a second mixingstep 508. The first composition acts as a hardener.

Some non-limiting examples of the first composition 511 (A) are:—

-   -   a) A premixed hardening agent comprising polyoxypropylene        triamine in a weight ratio of 50 to 90% wt/wt.    -   b) At least one organic or inorganic filler selected from carbon        ash, aluminum hydroxide, calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide,        magnesium hydroxide, magnesium carbonate, titanium hydroxide,        silica, similar fillers and combinations thereof in a weight        ratio of 2-20% wt/wt.    -   c) A coloring agent selected from a water soluble dye, a water        insoluble dye, a paint, an oxide, a metal oxide and combinations        thereof in a weight ratio of 0.01 to 1% wt/wt.    -   d) At least one surfactant selected from an ionic surfactant, an        anionic surfactant, a detergent, an edible oil, an inedible oil        and combinations thereof in a weight ratio of 0.01 to 15% wt/wt.    -   e) At least one aqueous agent selected from sea water, tap        water, distilled water, ice and combinations thereof in a weight        ratio of 0.01 to 15% wt/wt.

The second composition (B) 513, FIG. 5 acts as a resinous composition.Some examples of the second composition (B) are:—

-   -   a) At least one resinous agent selected from bisphenol A,        glycidyl ether, bisphenol S, EPI-001 and combinations thereof in        a weight ratio of 20 to 90% wt/wt.    -   b) At least one organic or inorganic filler selected from carbon        ash, aluminum hydroxide, calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide,        magnesium hydroxide, magnesium carbonate, titanium hydroxide,        silica, similar fillers and combinations thereof in a weight        ratio of 2-20% wt/wt.    -   c) A coloring agent selected from a water soluble dye, a water        insoluble dye, a paint, an oxide, a metal oxide and combinations        thereof in a weight ratio of 0.01 to 1% wt/wt.    -   d) At least one surfactant selected from an ionic surfactant, an        anionic surfactant, a detergent, an edible oil, an inedible oil        and combinations thereof in a weight ratio of 0.01 to 15% wt/wt.    -   e) At least one aqueous agent selected from sea water, tap        water, distilled water, ice and combinations thereof in a weight        ratio of 0.01 to 15% wt/wt.

Thereafter, in a cutting step 506, the dried impregnated material 509 iscut either manually or by machine into little chips in a cutting step506 to form chips 517.

The chips are typically wedge-shaped having dimensions, such as 0.1-8 cmheight, 0.1-6 cm width and 1-30 mm thickness. Additionally oralternatively, the chips may be arrow-shaped, cylindrical, cubic or anyother suitable shape.

The chips are mixed with second solution or suspension 515 in a thirdmixing step 510 to form a plug product 519. According to someembodiments, the chips may be placed under pressure, and upon release,they will suck up some of the second solution or suspension. The plugproduct 519 may be used for plugging a hole or crack in a pipe.

Some examples of the sealant compositions are provided in the followingexamples.

Example 1

In this example, the values percent of the fundamental materials A1 andB1, and exemplary weight concentration ranges outside elements.

Composition of material A1(%):

Bisphenol A 50.0-70.0(%)

Glycidyl Ether 7.0-20.0(%)

Inert powdered filler 10.0-20.0(%)

Clay 0-2.0(%)

A detergent precursor 0-5.0(%)

A corrosion resistance provider 0-3.0(%)

Hydrophobic liquid filler 2.0-5.0(%)

Inert liquid filler 4.0-7.0(%)

Silicon dioxide 0.5-1.0(%)

Iron oxide hydroxyl 0.1-0.5(%)

Composition of material B1(%):

Diethylene thiamine 0-23.0(%)

4.4-isopropylidenediphenol 0-16.0(%)

Isophorondiamine 0-31.0(%)

Benzyl alcohol 0-31.0(%)

A surfactant 0-1.0(%)

Detergent precursor 0-5.0(%)

Inert powdered filler 5-15.0(%)

Polyoxypropylene thiamine 0-70.0(%)

A corrosion resistance provider 0-5.0(%)

Clay 0-4.0(%)

4-nonylphenol, branched 0-15.0(%)

Silicon dioxide 0.2-2.0(%)

Iron oxide hydroxyl 0-0.6(%)

Inert liquid filler 1-6.0(%)

Hydrophobic liquid filler 1.0-6.0(%)

These materials once cured serve to provide robust long term plugging ofthe leakage with a longevity of similar order of magnitude to theremaining useful life of the host pipe. They also serve to withstandchanging environmental conditions. The cured product having a similarthermal coefficient in order of magnitude to the host pipe typicallyexpands and contracts under changing temperatures in unison with thehost pipe so as not to create a secondary leak under these conditions.

Example 2

This example shows the composition of the sealant plug covering the holein the pipe and the pipe remains in the field of repair of.

CAS # Name component material Content, % 80-05-7 Bisphenol A 39668609-97-2 Glycidyl ether 11 21645-51-2 Inert powder filler 20(synthetic aluminum 67-53-0 A corrosion resistance provider 3 120962-03Rapeseed oil 6.1 112945-52 Silicon dioxide 1 20344-49 Iron oxidehydroxyl 0.3 1140-40-0 Diethylene thiamine 3.5 80-05-74.4Isopropylidenediphenol 2.5 2855-13-2 Isophorondiamine 4 100-51-6 Benzylalcohol 4 9009-54-5 Polyurethane 2 9003-04-7 Polyacrylate (Tamcril-15) 39004-62-9 Berol NP-10 ( 9) 0.4 9004-62-0 Hydroxyethyl cellulose 0.18050-81-5 Antifoam APRU DF-7010 0.1

The references cited herein teach many principles that are applicable tothe present invention. Therefore the full contents of these publicationsare incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for teachings ofadditional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in itsapplication to the details set forth in the description contained hereinor illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that variousmodifications and changes can be applied to the embodiments of theinvention as hereinbefore described without departing from its scope,defined in and by the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A leakage plugging device for sealing aleakage at a remote site in a pipe, the device comprising: a. a porouscarrier plug of a generally three dimensional wedge shape, the plugbeing of a deformable condensable polymeric material comprising porescarrying a first density-enhancing dried composition comprising at leastone polymer; and b. at least one sealant composition disposed in saidpores, said at least one sealant composition comprising, a premixedhardening agent, wherein said porous carrier plug is adapted totransport said at least one sealant composition from a first site to aremote site and to cure said at least one composition and to seal saidleakage with a head section of said plug at said remote site.
 2. Aleakage plugging device according to claim 1, wherein said head sectionformed is of a greater density than a tail section of said plug at saidremote site and wherein said device is of a first dimension and saidleakage is of a second dimension.
 3. A leakage plugging device accordingto claim 2, wherein said first dimension is in a range of 0.1 mm to 100mm.
 4. A leakage plugging device according to claim 3, wherein saidfirst dimension is in a range of 1 mm to 60 mm.
 5. A leakage pluggingdevice according to claim 4, wherein said first dimension is in a rangeof 2 mm to 15 mm.
 6. A leakage plugging device according to claim 3,wherein said second dimension is in a range of 0.1 mm to 30 mm.
 7. Aleakage plugging device according to claim 1, wherein said porouscarrier plug or a multiplicity of porous carrier plugs, filled with atleast one sealant composition, is adapted to penetrate said remote site.8. A leakage plugging device according to claim 7, wherein said porouscarrier plug or a multiplicity of porous carrier plugs are adapted tofill at least one of a hole, a crack and breakage causing said leakageat said remote site.
 9. A leakage plugging device according to claim 8,wherein said porous carrier plug or a multiplicity of porous carrierplugs are adapted to be condensed at said remote site to form acondensed carrier plug.
 10. A leakage plugging device according to claim9, wherein said at least one sealant composition resides within saidcondensed carrier plug or plugs to fill said at least one of a hole, acrack and breakage causing leakage at said remote site.
 11. A leakageplugging device according to claim 8, wherein said porous carrier plugis adapted to form a narrow head part and wider tail part, wherein saidhead part is lodged within said remote site.
 12. A leakage pluggingdevice according to claim 1, wherein said porous carrier plug or plugsare of polyurethane of a density of 15-30 kg/m³.
 13. A leakage pluggingdevice according to claim 1, wherein said porous carrier plug or plugscomprise a polymer selected from the group consisting of a foamedmaterial, a polyurethane material, an expanded material, a naturalmaterial and a biodegradable porous material.
 14. A leakage pluggingdevice according to claim 1, wherein said at least one sealantcomposition comprises two sealant compositions.
 15. A leakage pluggingdevice according to claim 14, wherein said deformable material comprisespolyurethane of a density of 15-30 kg/m³, and said at least one sealantcomposition further comprises a fatty acid liquid composition.
 16. Aleakage plugging device according to claim 15, wherein said fatty acidliquid composition comprises a vegetable oil.
 17. A leakage pluggingdevice according to claim 15, wherein said vegetable oil is selectedfrom the group consisting of sunflower oil, safflower oil, corn oil,soybean oil, olive oil, canola oil and rapeseed oil.